Day: May 1, 2017

Beerbistro(website, Twitter)18 King Street East, Toronto ON M5C 1C4 (on the north side of King Street East, just east of Yonge Street) 416-815-7562Google Maps

Pull your socks up, Beerbistro, there are dozens of less snobby pubs within walking distance.

I’ve been to the Beerbistro at least four times since I started this blog. I took notes most visits, but I just kept going to better pubs in the meantime and I would slipped my review of Beerbistro to the bottom of my pub review notes. I recently decided that it was now or never as I hoped that my earlier meh experiences were just coincidences. The Beerbistro is loud, despite being carpeted, probably due to its high ceiling, and the pub is divided into two areas with a large bar and related seating in one part and a more formal restaurant feel in the other. The crowd is business people, understandably.

On my most recent visit to the Beerbistro, I told the greeter that I was meeting two people for dinner. After a while, I decided to check my telephone as my companions hadn’t arrived and discovered they had been turned away as they had been told that they would not be seated for at least an hour! I could see several empty tables near me and I couldn’t see reserved signs on them. I bolted down my second drink and ran across the street to the Office Pub, which was quieter and less pretentious and found my companions there.

Number of visits by yours truly: four and no more, most recently on a weekday evening in April 2017TTC information: just a minute’s walk east from King StationBooze selection: just shy of 100 beers on menu, including one cider, which is a rotating tap. They have a tasting flight (no Pimm’s)Food selection: swanky with beer pairing suggestionsService staff: on my second last visit about a year ago, we were rushed out as it was crowded and we were not encouraged to spend the evening drinking, in fact an empty glass sat on our table for a lot longer than usual and was ignored by our waitress, then see above for missed dinner with friendsPrices: expensiveToilets: needed cleaningPatio: on the west side, but very dark as between tall buildingsWheelchair accessible: not really, hallway to toilets crowded and too many high-top tables for those who might not be able to sit at themTelevisions: three over the bar showing sportsLive music: doubt itPiped-in music: Lenny Kravitz

“There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.” Samuel Johnson

“‘Tis my intention, gentle sir, to perish in a tavern.” Unknown, 13th century

“As I never refuse a small expence for the sake of a merry companion, we instantly adjourned to a neighbouring alehouse, and, in a few moments, had a frothing tankard, and a smoaking steak spread on the table before us. It is impossible to express how much the sight of such good cheer improved my companion’s vivacity.” Oliver Goldsmith

“Alcohol makes other people less tedious, and food less bland.” Christopher Hitchens

“There cannot be good living where there is not good drinking.” Benjamin Franklin

“I suddenly realize that, of all the buildings in the world — art galleries and hospitals and libraries and good homes — pubs are the best kind of buildings.” Caitlin Moran